by Eliza Gayle
Gathering her strength and focus once again, she flung it high and wide. Aimed straight at the house, the ball of fire connected with the roof above the kitchen, exploding on contact. She thought briefly of the scarred wooden table in the kitchen. A table four surly boys had eaten and likely fought at as they’d grown up together. An important piece of their history, and she had just destroyed it. With a heavy sigh she once again remembered why she couldn't be permitted to live in the normal world. No matter her intentions, bad things always happened when she was involved. The smart thing would be to turn back or find a place to hide—alone.
With heavy shoulders to accompany a heavy heart, she swung back around to the garage. Cash was on his knees trying to revive the pretty girl on the ground. Her face was pale with death. Selene could see the streaks on her neck where she had clawed herself in an attempt to get some air in her lungs. Cash's power, whatever it was, had stolen the air right out of her body. A cold shiver snaked down her spine at the thought. She was in over her head with this one.
Cash looked up at her, his eyes cold and distant. “She's breathing, I think she is going to be fine.” He looked at the house and then back to the garage. “There's a small apartment attached to the back of the garage, we can take her in there. I imagine the fire trucks will be here any minute for the house. It would be bad for her to be seen.” As if on cue the faint sound of the shrill fire truck sirens carried in on the wind.
Cash lifted the fallen attacker into his arms with little effort and headed toward the back. Selene saw his hand move but didn't see him reach for a key or the door, but a hidden door slid open and he walked through the doorway, careful not to hurt the woman in his arms. She stepped over the threshold behind him into a surprisingly lush apartment. She'd gathered he came from a wealthy family from the inside of the townhouse, but the décor in here took things to a new level.
What did I say before about the rabbit hole?
From old money antiquities and charm to modern art deco was a huge contrast. Now this looked more like the bachelor pad she would have expected. With leather sofas and recliners placed strategically around a bank of flat screen televisions hanging on the wall, it looked like every man's wet dream. She tried to imagine Cash sitting in here watching the big game with his brothers. Hmmm. Maybe…
He struck her as more of a boxing kind of man versus your typical football and basketball aficionado.
Behind the leather seating area was a small but efficient kitchen area decked out in small, apartment-sized stainless steel appliances and grey marble countertops. The cleanliness surprised her. The kitchen was spotless as if it was rarely used. Cash disappeared through an adjoining door she presumed would be the bedroom.
What the hell were they going to do now? With a heavy sigh, Selene followed him into the bedroom.
“Cash what are—” The sight of him tying the dark haired woman's wrists to eyebolts over the lake-sized bed stopped her cold. He'd laid her out on the bed, even covering her with a thin blanket. “Is that really necessary?”
“What do you think? She wasn’t here to invite us to tea.”
“Yeah, I guess you're right.” She walked closer to peer into the woman's face, trying to not think about the fact that there were hooks in the wall above this bed. Whose room was this? Cash's? Her sex clenched at the idea. He'd struck her as a bit dominating during sex but she hadn't even considered this. “Who is she?”
He lifted her unconscious arm, flipping it over to reveal a small black tattooed symbol on the inside of her wrist. “Do you recognize this?”
"No, what is it?
“Coven marking. One I'm very familiar with. It seems our unwelcome guest was after me, not you.”
“I-I don't understand. Did you say a coven? As in a Wiccan coven?”
“Uhh, sort of. It's a long story.”
Selene sank down into the chair next to the bed. “I think we've got time. Unless I’m mistaken, and this isn't a secure hiding place. Considering all outside noise ceased the minute the hidden door closed behind us, I take it we’re not likely to be found in here.”
“Smart girl. Observant, too. I'm very impressed.”
Her expression didn't change. She sat staring at him, waiting. Inside she might be trembling but he would never see it. Outside she was cold, calm, and collected. It was what she’d been trained to be. “Not in here. Let's go to the other room to talk, there's no telling when she’ll wake up.”
Selene rose, following Cash to the living room. She watched him sit on the leather sofa, draping his muscled torso and arms along the back while stretching his long legs in front of him onto the coffee table. His hands threaded through his wavy locks, a resigned gesture. His body vibrated with gentle waves of power but his eyes expressed fatigue. Watching him try to relax, she longed for something she hadn't dared for in a very long time.
A life.
Swallowing a sigh, she shook herself from her fantasies. Having a normal life was out of the question for someone like her. Termination was in her future soon if she didn't come up with a plan for escape. It was only a matter of time before Merc located her once again. The man was as relentless as a pit bull with a dog bone. He would track her down it was only a matter of time.
While she seemed distracted, Cash took a moment to study her. On the outside she was beautiful and cool. To anyone else she would appear cold. But he knew better. He'd seen and felt her heat. They had linked. The signs were unmistakable. After the magick he had just used he should be violently ill and angry. Yeah, the anger… He'd gotten so used to experiencing it, he felt a little weird without it. She'd absorbed it, then burned it with that final fireball, he would guess. He didn't regret losing his childhood home all that much. As soon as Grae found out about it he would have it rebuilt and restored to the exact specifications it had been. Besides a few personal belongings that would be lost, they wouldn't be able to tell it was a rebuild. Amazing what money and his determined twin could do.
This place was more his style anyway. His gaze swept the room, admiring the simplicity and comfort he had here. All of their houses had rooms like this. Somewhere they could escape to if the main house was breached. This wasn't exactly the first time someone had come after him. No, he stayed prepared for the all too frequent attacks.
“So are you going to tell me what's going on? Or are you planning to daydream all day?” Her smart mouth roused him from his thoughts, bringing a smile to her face. Oh, how he'd love to show her what to do with that mouth. His cock stirred in his pants at the thought of instructing her.
Her plump lips formed a smirk on her face and he thought how lucky she was to be across the room and not sitting next to him right now.
“The woman lying in my bed right now is from a small coven of particularly heartless witches. Ones that for the right price will do just about any job you ask of them. And, considering we saw her up close and personal this morning, I would assume she has been hired to capture, not kill.”
“Wait.” She held up her hands to stop him. “A witch for hire? Is this some kind of joke? 'Cause I don't think it's very funny.” She paced across the room.
“No, Selene, I am serious.”
She shook her head, looking confused and very unbelieving. “Since when did I step into an episode of Charmed? This is ridiculous. Right?”
He weighed his options here. How much did he tell her? It would be easy enough to make up a story that he was a target because of his wealthy family. That his uncle sought his fortune, not his life.
Then why was the witch trying to capture you? The voice of reason in his head whispered. Good God damned question.
“Selene, think about it. You have already seen that I have abilities like you but different.”
“Uh, yeah. I'd say different all right. Sure, I can throw a good flame and on a good day feel and sense emotions around me and even on a rare occasion hear things. But…I can't control the air, or throw up force fields or open doors without touching them. So yea
h, we are—” She stopped mid sentence, staring at him. Her eyes narrowed as he watched the truth dawning in the clear blue eyes that entrapped him.
“Are you…are you telling me—no. No. No.” She turned and paced again. “You can't be trying to tell me that you are a-are a…”
“A witch, Selene. I'm a witch. A full-blooded one from a long line of true witches.” He stood up, walking over to her. His body ached to be close to hers. “It's not a dirty word, you know.” When she refused to look at him directly he reached down and touched his fingers to her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “There is nothing to be afraid of. I won't let anything happen to you.”
“It's not that,” she whispered.
“Open your mind to the possibilities, babe. You may not be a witch like me but, you do have special abilities that make you different from ninety-nine percent of the human population. It's not much of a stretch beyond that to believe in magick.” He softly touched his lips to hers, hoping to soothe her fears. “Magick is not bad, people are.”
Her mouth opened for him on a soft sigh and what was meant to be a comforting kiss turned electric and hot in seconds. Her tongue stabbed into his mouth, seeking his, sliding against his lips and setting him on fire. Meeting her tongue, he kissed her back, thrust for thrust as if fucking her mouth like his body burned to be fucking her.
With sure, slow movements, he unbuttoned her top, revealing the bare breasts beneath. She hadn't had time for undergarments when they'd fled from the house, which pleased him immensely. Pushing her top from her shoulders, it fell to the floor with a gentle wisp. His hands cupped her full breasts, rubbing his thumbs across her tightened nipples. A low moan sounded in her throat as he continued to caress her.
Breaking the kiss, he dipped his head to circle one of the delectable hard tips with his tongue. Her head fell back and her back arched, pushing more of her silken flesh to his eager mouth. His teeth nibbled gently until, encouraged by her moans, he bit one. Gentle at first, then a little harder each time, he moved back and forth between them. Pleased with her gasps and moans of pleasure, he increased the pain until she panted and pleaded for him to stop. A sly smile quirked at his mouth.
Trailing kisses along the curve of her neck, he nipped at her chin before once again capturing her lips. Her hands left his shoulders, sliding to the waistband of his jeans as she fumbled with the buttons and pushed him towards the couch. He jerked away from her hand, breaking the kiss and pushing her back a few steps.
“No, Selene. This is one place you can't be in control.” He paused. “Ever.”
Her eyes opened, lust shining back at him. She seemed to be considering his comments. Distracted once again by the lovely color of her flushed breasts, he reached for them, pinching and pulling the tender skin. “I love the way you rise to danger, ready to fight at all costs, but here, like this, it has to be my way. You have to trust me that I will take care of your needs, Selene.” He waited, giving her time to consider his words.
“Please, Cash, tell me what you want me to do. Let me please you.” Her words came out husky and raw with need, spurring him into action.
He grabbed her shoulders once again, hauling her against him. “Be sure about this, Selene.” His voice dropped to a commanding whisper. “There's no turning back.” Oh, he knew if she wanted him to stop in the middle he would certainly do the right thing, but it might kill him to do so. Already her acquiescing to his initial demand had his cock bumping against his zipper, throbbing to get inside her.
The soft, eager look on her face as she looked up at him had him yearning for his toy bag. The sudden image of sliding a ball gag between her lush lips, fastening it behind her neck, clouded his vision, a sudden wave of overpowering heat seared through him.
“Touch me, Selene. I want to feel your hands on me.” He grabbed her hands and placed them at his waist above the waistband of his jeans. The warmth of her skin seeped through to him. As her hands traveled across his bare stomach to his jeans-covered cock, she sank slowly to her knees in front of him. His mouth went dry at the sight and feel of her there. He had to lick his lips, trying to focus on staying in control.
The steady tick of his zipper lowering filled the room. He held his breath until her hands reached inside his boxer briefs and pushed the thin fabric below his balls, exposing the true depth of his need. He moaned as he sprang free and she caught him between her hands, stroking up and down his engorged and aching shaft. When the soft, padded tips of her fingers caught underneath the crest his body jerked and pre-come flowed from his slit.
“Has anyone ever told you how much air is attracted to fire?” he gasped, barely able to choke out the words when her mouth covered the head of his cock.
“Mmm.” Her moan vibrated along his sensitive skin, sensations jerking through his body. No way he was going to be able to take much more of this. Her mouth heated, the increasing temperature warming his near to bursting cock. Her tongue stroked along the underside as she took him deeper.
“That's it, baby, suck it.” His head fell back, getting into the suction and rhythm of her mouth, the pressure building in his heavy balls.
Selene looked up into his darkened eyes. The murky amber now looked nearly black. His magick sizzled across his skin straight into her body. She felt the surge of it mingled with his lust and the orgasm that built within him. It spurred her on. She ran her tongue from base to tip swirling along the vein just under the head. His hands tightened on her scalp, holding her in place while his hips pumped harder, it didn’t take rocket science to know he was about to come. Her body tightened and shivered with want. The want of his orgasm surged through her.
Just when his groans and thrusts would deliver his pleasure, he pulled her off his dick. Losing balance, she fell back on her ass before he caught her around the waist. Before she could gather her wits and utter a word, he grabbed her wrists together as he pulled her from the floor and against his body. The soft hair of his chest rubbed against her nipples, wrenching a gasp from her throat. Her pussy creamed, coating her slit, readying her for him.
He pushed her back against the wall, holding her wrists above her head. Looking at him, she noticed a cotton tie in his hands, the kind used to hold back drapery, moments before he used it to bind her wrists together and then attach it to a rod being used to display a tapestry above her head.
“Clever, Cash, now what?”
A low growl sounded from his throat. “Whatever I want.” His finger traced a path down her cheek and jaw, continuing along her throat and shoulder before pausing at the swell of her breast. He teased around the outside edges of her curves and only laughed when she tried to thrust her breast into his hand. “Don't be a bad girl, Selene, I'd be all too happy to take you over my knee.” Her pussy clenched. “Have you ever been spanked like that? Spanked until your ass burned like fire, and your pussy dripped with need?”
“No.” The word was barely a whisper as her desire raged out of control.
In the blink of an eye, he grasped the waistband of her pants, pulled them down her legs and off her bare feet, throwing them across the room. Both hands grasped her ankles. “Spread your legs for me.”
She did as he said, widening her legs. There was certainly something about his tone of voice that made her want to obey. His thumbs grazed the insides of her legs all the way to her sex. He reached for her pussy lips and used his thumbs to spread them apart, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I can smell you. The rich scent of your lust. Goddess, Selene, you're killing me.” He dragged his thumbs across her slit before pushing them into her entrance. She bucked her hips against his hands, whimpering, pulling against her bindings, with her head falling back against the wall. The feeling of helplessness drove her wild with even more pleasure.
“So wet. Mmm. So ready.” He let his hands fall from her sex, grabbed her thighs and lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist.
One second she hooked her feet behind his ass and the next he impaled her,
his cock stretching and pushing to it’s full depth. Her breath caught in her throat at the sudden fullness and pleasure shooting through her. She sensed his control being broken as he thrust into her over and over again. She watched the muscles of his arms and chest flexing with each plunge as sensation after sensation built in her, pushing her to the edge.
“Oh, God, Cash!”
He pumped harder, pushing her tight against the wall, his hips banging into her. They both spiraled out of control as he quickened his pace with short, hard thrusts.
“Come for me, Selene. Let me feel that tight pussy milking me.”
She moaned at his request. Letting the sensations flow over her—pushing her. Pushing her until she exploded in his arms. At the same time his body stiffened against her as a deep moan sounded in his throat, his pleasure pulling more from her than she thought possible. Wave after wave until she thought it might not end. Fighting for breath, his body finally stilled, with them both replete. His arms reached for her bindings, loosening the bonds at her wrist and lowering her arms to his shoulder. She collapsed against him. Her body warm and satisfied, a pain developed in her chest to replace the sexual hunger she had satisfied.
How could a stranger she ran into on the highway end up with such an effect on her? She couldn't do this. She closed her eyes against his shoulder, drawing in his scent. She didn't want to think about it. Right now she needed some sleep and planned to do so in the warmth of his arms. If there was only one night together why waste it worrying about the future?
“Are you okay, Selene?” His voice rumbled in his chest, flowing through her.
